Archive for February, 2019

With the start of March the Equinox and Spring draw near, though with the weather here cannot make up its mind on what it wants to do. The name of March is drawn from the Roman month Martius which in turn gains its name from Mars, the Roman god of war (and more a soldier than a warrior as opposed to his Greek counterpart Ares).

The theme for March is the military and things martial. If there is anything in particular you would like to see, please let me know. I will try to do something, spell or item, for the Equinox as well.

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Magic is everywhere in the Sea of Stars, it is a constant, like air and sunlight. Almost everyone knows a worker of magic in some form, villagers would know a hedge wizard, priest or witch, townsfolk meet alchemists, priests and wizards, while those in the cities may know those who follow an even more exotic path.

Many, even most, people know one or two small magics to make their tasks easier, charms to keep milk from curdling, a cantrip to keep a needle sharp for a seamstress, and other such things. These narrowly focused spells can be used once or twice a day are with in the realm of almost anyone with even a spark of mystical talent to learn. Guilds keep their specialized magics, no matter how small, secret and are only taught as people move upward through the ranks. Farmers pass their tricks and charms to their children.

Over the years and centuries, many magic items have been constructed and enchanted. Many of those are for small or frivolous things, enchanted combs, magical serving sets and such. The dragons value luxury and convenience, leading to a continuing expansion in the creation of helpful items that have filtered down to the wealthy and even to the middle class (and no small number have become Visse family heirlooms). While expensive, the durability and usefulness of such items often make them worthwhile purchases for major occasions, such as marriages, so their number in circulation grows.

Those who live in the countryside and the wilds have their own traditions of folk magic to call upon, it is rarely as long lasting as the carefully constructed masterpieces of the wizards and guilds but they serve their purpose of helping the community in good times and ill. Druids and others with understanding of natural lore guide magic into living things, growing magic items for later use ranging from as simply as unspoiling fruit to as complex as living buildings.

If you listen in the right places, there are rumors of divine items predating the Sundering hidden in lost temples or abandoned shrines, must of these have long since been looted (not least by the dragons) but a few unspoiled troves of such valuable magics must still exist.

So, for those seeking magic there are many places to go searching. Occasionally wizards guilds (or other magical organization) will organize expeditions to investigate folk magic, which do not usually work as well as either side might hope. Others seeking lost magical items among the heirlooms and artifacts of families, treasure hunters and confidence tricksters to profit from acquring such, legitimate researchers and historians to study them.

This also mean that people who consciously eschew or avoid magic are looked at as being a bit strange, who would abandon such useful everyday tools? But they are usually just viewed and treated as being eccentric, not actively dangerous, unless they start trying to stop other people from using magic.

“I just cannot shake the feeling that we are being watched,” explained Voddick, bending to look under a table.

“Hmm.” Gollaon took a silver coin and set it spinning on the table, seemingly unconcerned. When it stopped spinning and landed with on side up, he glanced at it and swept it up with his hand. “We are being watched by some sort of magic.”

“Ah, that explains it,” nodded Voddick. “But why?”

“No idea.”

Spectator’s Mirror

These mirrors always seem to have some small flaw, not quite casting a prefect reflection. They usually have ornate frames and can be of medium to large size.

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Well, as this has now become an actual campaign rather than just a few one off adventures, let me start to record the adventure of our brave (?) heroes (??) in the city of Taren Kost. This game is played with D&D 5E rules modified for the Sea of Stars setting.

Skatska, self-exiled acid-breathing Dragonborn who seeks the old gods. (Paladin, first appearance Episode 3, played by D)

Fiorentino, Prezzo dei Raditor,one of the rare fae gnomes who works as a ratcatcher, secretly building a rat army, wears a cat-fur cloak. (Ranger, first appearance Episode 4, played by B)

Reed Greenbottle, Visse agent of Taren Kost’s Trade Directorate, License Enforcement, and stickler for the proper rules. (Rogue, first appearance Episode 4, also played by R)

Agrippa, tortoise beastkine martial artist seeking his three lost brothers. (Shadow Monk 3, first appearance Episode 11, played by B, naturally, as his other character is very city focused)

Natya Gefeltewulf. a brave if none too bright scion of a noble family, trained in the arts of the eldritch knight and assigned to a desolate border region to keep her out of trouble. (Fighter – Eldritch Knight, first appearance Episode 15, played by B2)

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“The new superintendent seems much more commanding since that package arrived from home,” said Voddick watching the action.

Gollaon nodded. “I wonder what was in it? I see no new jewelry or symbol of office, nor a new sword or baton . . .”

“Maybe it was just good news from home.”

“Perhaps, but I just cannot but think there was something more.”

“If you think it is a matter of concern, we will watch,” said Voddick, shifting to keep the superintendent in view.

“I think we had best.”

Devilskin Unmentionables

These underthings look like thin leather, usually black or deep red, and fit like silk adapting both shape and form to the wearer. This effect is mostly under the control of the wearer though given its choice, the unmentionables will always choose revealing and enticing styles.